Sterling girls blow past Scott City
Sterling, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–The Scott City Lady Beaver team knew it would be a big task to open up Sterling Invitational Tournament play on Monday night against the No. 1 team in Class 2A. Sterling entered 9-0 and have won all but one game by more than 10 points.
The Lady Bears would prove too much, leading wire to wire in a 66-36 victory, spoiling the Lady Beavers debut in the tournament.
Sterling jumped out to a 13-2 lead in the first five minutes, before Scott City got to within seven at 13-6 with 2:16 left in the opening frame. However, the Lady Bears scored the next seven, leading 20-6 in the first minute of the second period. Sterling would slowly nudge their lead larger, never allowing Scott City to go on a run, as they took a 27-12 lead at the break.
To begin the second half, the Lady Bears scored the first seven points to lead 34-12 with 4:50 left in the third quarter. The teams would trade points, before Sterling took a 46-24 lead heading into the final period. Scott City would have two spurts where they scored four straight, but the Lady Bears forced a continuous clock at 64-32 with 2:52 left. The Lady Beavers scored four of the final six points to make the final 66-36 in favor of Sterling.
Five players were in double figures for Sterling, as they were led by Makenna Linden with 14 points, Bennie Horsch with 12, Sadie Beagly had 11 and Kali Briar and Kate Rowland added 10 apiece. The Lady Bears shot 42% from the floor at 22-53, and made 17-21 of their free throws.
Scott City was led by Brooke Strine with 11 points and seven rebounds, and Amber Latta added nine points and seven boards. The Lady Beavers would go 13-47 from the field for 28% for the game and struggled at the foul line, shooting 8-15.
It was the first-ever meeting between Sterling and Scott City on the girls side, and it was also the first time Scott City has ever played a member of the Heart of America League. Amber Latta is the Scott City representative on the girls side in the Doug Sillin 3-Point Contest. She hit 11 three’s, which puts her in second place after day one of the tournament, behind Sterling’s Kali Briar, who made 18 three’s.
Scott City will face their second straight HOA opponent Thursday afternoon, as they wrap up pool play against Hutchinson Trinity, who enters as the four seed. The Lady Celtics and Southeast of Saline face off Tuesday, while Sterling and SE of Saline match up Thursday afternoon. Smoky Valley rallied in the second half to upend Kingman on the girls side 51-37. Kingman faces Hugoton Tuesday night and Hugoton and Smoky Valley match up Thursday night in the final round of pool play.
On the boys side on Monday, Hutchinson Trinity got past Southeast of Saline 56-54, while top-seed Lyons held off Kingman 73-63. Southeast of Saline and Kingman face off Tuesday afternoon, while Lyons and Hutchinson Trinity will meet up Thursday in the championship semi finals.
Scott City 6-6-12-12-36
Sterling 18-9-19-20-66
Scott City (1-7): Rumford 3 0-0 6; Strine 4 3-6 11; Latta 3 3-7 9; Ford 0 0-0 0; Felker 2 0-0 6; Cramer 0 2-2 2; Cupp 1 0-0 2; Patton 0 0-0 0; Team: 13 8-15 36
Sterling (10-0): Rowland 4 0-0 10; Morris 0 0-0 0; L. Farney 2 1-1 5; Linden 3 7-8 14; Horsch 5 2-2 12; Richter 0 0-0 0; Ekart 1 1-3 3; Briar 4 0-0 10; K. Farney 0 1-2 1; Brownlee 0 0-0 0; Cornelius 0 0-0 0; Beagley 3 5-5 11; Chesney 0 0-0 0; Team: 22 17-21 66
Three Pointers: Scott City 2 (Felker 2); Sterling 5 (Briar 2, Rowland 2, Linden 1); Rebounds: Scott City 36, Sterling 33; Turnovers: Scott City 19, Sterling 12; Fouls: Scott City 18, Sterling 18; Fouled Out: Scott City (Rumford).
Coach Amy Felker Postgame
